Philippine president makes no mention of online gambling in state of the nation speech
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken no stance on igaming, leaving lawmakers, operators and critics in suspense.
The Philippines.- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr made no mention of online gambling in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). It had been expected that he would express his position on the issue amid growing calls for a ban or tighter regulations.
Just a year ago, Marcos used the speech to announce a ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs). Some believed this year could see that extended to domestic online gambling. However, the 70-minute speech focused on health, infrastructure, anti-corruption and foreign investment with no reference to the online gambling sector.
Some have interpreted the silence as support for the current regulatory framework, while others see it as a sign of indecision.
There have been several legislative proposals for bans on online gambling, and finance secretary Ralph Recto has suggested higher taxes and stricter oversight. For the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), online gaming generated PHP51bn (US$890m) in the first quarter of 2025.
